.Sam Borden, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The U.S. females's nationwide team succeeded the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, hammering South america, 1-0, in a game that required a stout protective stand in the 1st fifty percent followed by a specific as well as computed surge in the 2nd to refute South america as well as its legendary leader Marta.It was actually a known ending to a tournament that had been so much about what is actually new for the USWNT: A new train in Emma Hayes, a brand new frontline of assailants as well as a brand-new expectation after the disappointment of final summer months's Female's World Mug all meshed all together to lead to a record-extending fifth Olympic name, and also to begin with because 2012, for the USA girls, who certainly never routed at any type of factor in their six suits in France.Mallory Swanson scored the winning target in the 57th moment along with a slick finish after going through on target, however youthful midfielder Korbin Albert-- that delivered the reception-- and Sophia Smith, that smartly ran away from the stage show after recognizing she was in an offside posture, were the companies. As soon as Swanson crinkled her shot past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Boat trip and also Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's fourth target of the event, many among the Americans and also tied for second-most amongst all gamers in the competition. Brazil, which had been actually in order for a lot of video game's early stages, continued to precipitate trying to find a counterpoise yet could not find its method via. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her group's most valuable player in the first one-half, carried out certainly not enable a target in the knockout rounds.The suit was actually used the very same area where the men's teams coming from Spain as well as France played out an eight-goal standard in their ultimate a time earlier, and also females's teams started at a pace that a minimum of meant a potential outrageous fireworks, too.Mallory Swanson's goal provided a 5th gold award for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil began without Marta, a decision which was reasonable-- the team had actually only trumped France and also Spain while she served a red-card revocation-- but still really felt weird. And also Hayes fell Rose Lavelle from her lineup in favor of Albert, a seeming salute to Lavelle's personal injury background and also the option of additional opportunity. Obviously, it was a selection that worked out perfectly.As they did in their upset of Spain, the Brazilians showed up pushing. Inside pair of minutes, Ludmila had a close-range chance conserved through Naeher, an early cautionary tale that seemed like an arrow evaded. Unbothered, Brazil kept coming. Adriana danced deftly on completion pipe and also almost attracted a fine from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila switched Naomi Girma and castigated a fired in to the web that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and also just skipped Ludmila along with a hazardous cross facing goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans possessed seconds, too. Trio Rodman's magical spin at midfield delivered her flying in the direction of goal and Swanson used her speed too to draw a corner but South america always experienced extra dangerous. Otherwise for Naeher-- that provided a wonderful reaction save of Portilho in first-half interruption time-- the united state would have been actually effectively responsible for at the break.Instead, they equaled and also capable to find out along with greater necessity and also vigor. Smith went across contemporary of Swanson's range as well as Sam Coffey had a crack that swerved large to obtain the united state group back right into it before Albert discovered her room. A quick glimpse, a spirituous elapsed and also South america was actually reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics and what is actually counted on to be her final international, came on at the hour however was actually consistently shut in. Four moments into 10 minutes of halt opportunity, Adriana pressed a diving header at objective coming from close range that Naeher-- once more == knocked away.Marta put her palms on her scalp. The American supporters shouted in pleasure. One year after incredible dissatisfaction, the USWNT was actually back.